How do you respond to this assertion?

Hello all. I have a friend who runs a Krotty dojo. That doesn't offend me, much, but the "Self Defense for Women!" seminars really do. In a lengthy conversation (fueled by alcohol, of course) she reduced her training course to this:

I know that kata and compliant exercises aren't teaching fighting, but they teach confidence. The women learn that they can progress at something physical; master kata and application and so on. Then, they act more confident in public. Attackers sense weakness/lack of confidence, so if they just look more confident - no confrontation!

Is there any kind of evidence for this? That simple confidence boosters reduce attacks? If so, is this a possible use for compliant "fighting"?

Muggers are know to attack those they see as more vulnerable, rapists, i'm not si sure, since a high percentage of rapes are from people who know the victim, hence removing them as a random target, and rape is an act of domination, the 'confident' woman may actually fuel that need for dominance.

Either way its pretty unlikely a few kata would raise someone's confidence enough they would behave much different outside

Hello all. I have a friend who runs a Krotty dojo. That doesn't offend me, much, but the "Self Defense for Women!" seminars really do. In a lengthy conversation (fueled by alcohol, of course) she reduced her training course to this:

I know that kata and compliant exercises aren't teaching fighting, but they teach confidence. The women learn that they can progress at something physical; master kata and application and so on. Then, they act more confident in public. Attackers sense weakness/lack of confidence, so if they just look more confident - no confrontation!

Is there any kind of evidence for this? That simple confidence boosters reduce attacks? If so, is this a possible use for compliant "fighting"?

If it's just about teaching a mindset, why not just teach them to enjoy very rough sex with complete strangers ?

A lot of self defence courses run on this principal. The real issue here is, as a woman, why is your friend ok with manipulating other womens insecurity, especially with something as potentially harmful as this?